Explore every episode of the podcast The Forties Formula | Perimenopause, Lifestyle & Health for Women Over 40

In this episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim sit down with Malissa Sander, founder of Aqua Tula, to challenge the idea that women in their 40s need to train harder to stay fit.

Malissa shares her journey from childhood anorexia and an unhealthy relationship with exercise to rebuilding her body through water-based fitness and strength training. After losing muscle, suffering injuries and developing osteoporosis, she learned to approach movement differently, prioritising strength, recovery and a sustainable relationship with her body.

The conversation explores why the “push harder” approach can be counterproductive in midlife, and why Malissa’s Three Ws; weights, water and walking form the foundation of her approach.

Chapters:

00:00 Malissa’s story: from anorexia to strength

03:06 Anorexia, perfectionism and body image

04:47 When exercise pushed her body too far

05:19 Rebuilding through water and weights

07:21 Discovering aqua and strength training

09:52 The Three Ws: weights, water and walking

11:22 Combining water, mobility, cardio and strength

12:57 The biggest myths about aqua fitness

13:59 Blue Mind Theory and the brain on water

14:36 Why hard training can feel easier in the pool

15:30 Building community through movement

17:19 Aqua Tula as an adaptable fitness system

18:21 The calling behind Aqua Tula

19:51 How the Aqua Tula method was created

20:21 What does “Aqua Tula” mean?

20:39 What to expect in your first class

22:03 Who can benefit from aqua fitness?

23:24 Is aqua fitness for men too?

24:41 Pregnancy, postpartum and C-section recovery

25:48 Exercise and postpartum depression

29:40 Do you need to know how to swim?

31:10 Body confidence and getting into the pool

32:36 Reconnecting with your body through movement

34:48 Hot or Hype

37:04 Where to find Aqua Tula

37:23 Malissa’s 40s Formula

About the guest:

Malissa Sander is the founder of Aqua Tula, a boutique water-based fitness method combining HIIT, strength, mobility and flexibility — designed for all ages and fitness levels. Based in Singapore, Malissa has trained a community of over 450 women and works with everyone from perimenopausal women managing joint pain and inflammation, to pre and postnatal clients, to elite athletes. Her method is built on the belief that exercise does not have to be painful to be effective.

Follow Malissa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aqua.tula/reels Find out more and book a class: https://www.aquatula.com

About your hosts

Jasmin Dhillon is an Integrated Health Strategist and Health Coach helping women in their 40s navigate gut health, hormones and nutrition. https://www.instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin/

Amanda Lim is a Metabolic Health Coach focused on helping women build strength, confidence and long-term health. https://www.instagram.com/coachamanda/

Support the podcast

If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe and share this episode with someone navigating a major life transition or learning to let go of a version of themselves.

You can also support the show by Buying Us a Coffee: https://the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin.kit.com/products/buy-us-a-coffee

If you are a woman in your 40s and the weight is not moving despite doing everything right, this conversation is for you.

Sara May Garcia is a fitness coach and co-founder of Bootique gym in Singapore. She gained 8kg in two months — eating the same, training the same. She is a professional. She knew exactly what to do. And it still wasn't working.

In this clip from The Forties Formula, Sara shares what was actually happening in her body, why perimenopause weight gain hits differently, and what finally changed — not just physically, but mentally.

Topics covered: perimenopause weight gain, perimenopause symptoms, menopause weight loss, strength training for women, fat loss over 40, fitness over 40, losing weight over 40, perimenopause and mindset, muscle loss from undereating, sustainable fat loss for women in their 40s.

If your doctor has told you you are too young or dismissed your symptoms, we built a free script to help you walk into that appointment and get taken seriously: thefortiesformula.com/script

Watch the full episode on YouTube: youtu.be/BgPaWVrqhGs Or search The Forties Formula wherever you get your podcasts.

Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula

Sponsors: The Meat Club — use code TFF20 for $20 off your first order. themeatclub.com.sg Love Indus — use code TFF for 21% off. loveindus.com

About Sara May Garcia: Fitness coach and co-founder of ProCoach Gym, helping people build strength, improve body composition and create sustainable fitness habits. instagram.com/saramayfit

About your hosts: Jasmin Dhillon is an Integrated Health Strategist helping women in their 40s navigate hormones, gut health and nutrition. instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin

Amanda Lim is a Metabolic Health Coach helping women build strength, confidence and long-term health. instagram.com/coachamandalim

Chapters:

0:00 A Personal Transformation Beyond the Stage

2:22 The Power of Mindset and Boundaries

4:14 Why Your Old Routine No Longer Works

6:16 Escaping the Mental Rabbit Hole

#perimenopause #perimenopausesymptoms #perimenopauseweightgain #menopause #menopauseweightloss #fitnessover40 #strengthtrainingforwomen #weightlossover40 #womenover40 #womenshealth #fatloss #strengthtraining #menopausefitness #thefortiesformula #podcast

In this episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim talk grief, mental health and the losses women in their 40s carry but rarely name, with therapist Sapna Makwana Hanspal.

For women in their 40s, grief isn't only about losing someone. It can come from a changing identity, a changing body, fertility ending, a dream that didn't happen, a relationship changing, or realising you've outgrown a version of yourself. This conversation looks at why we don't always recognise these experiences as grief, why some forms carry shame, and how cultural expectations can make certain losses harder to acknowledge.

They discuss grief connected to ageing parents, divorce, motherhood and the lives our parents may never have had the chance to live. Sapna also shares her own experience as a third culture kid, and how identity, loss and belonging eventually led her from a 20-year career in finance into psychotherapy.

The conversation covers how grief can show up as anxiety, burnout, anger and exhaustion, how patterns can be carried across generations, and why grief doesn't need to be got over. It needs to be integrated into our lives.

Chapters

00:00 The grief we don't realise we're carrying

02:02 Are women in their 40s grieving?

03:20 Disenfranchised grief

04:05 Grieving a changing identity

06:25 Grieving the end of fertility

07:02 Gender disappointment and the loss of a dream

10:12 Grief connected to our parents

11:07 The sandwich generation and ageing parents

14:27 Divorce and hidden grief

17:29 Anxiety, burnout, rage and exhaustion

20:30 How to support someone who is grieving

23:56 The five stages of grief

25:57 Integrating grief into your life

28:04 Growing up as a third culture kid

30:15 From finance to psychotherapy

32:32 Can grief be passed between generations?

34:31 Grieving the life our parents didn't get to live

37:02 The grief of a life never lived

38:42 Reconnecting with a lost part of yourself

40:50 Practical ways to work through grief

42:17 When your body knows before your mind

45:02 Can movement and self-care help?

47:51 Everyone has their own timeline

50:23 Focusing on what you can control

51:40 Hot or Hype:

55:36 — Sapna's 40s Formula

About your hosts

Jasmin Dhillon is an Integrated Health Strategist and Health Coach helping women in their 40s navigate gut health, hormones and nutrition.

https://www.instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin/

Amanda Lim is a Metabolic Health Coach focused on helping women build strength, confidence and long-term health.

https://www.instagram.com/coachamanda/

Support the podcast

If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe and share this episode with someone navigating a major life transition or learning to let go of a version of themselves.

You can also support the show by Buying Us a Coffee:

https://the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin.kit.com/products/buy-us-a-coffee

Thank you to our sponsors

For Youth

Support your skin, recovery, sleep and longevity with The Forties Formula System. Use code TF35 for up to 35% off storewide.

https://www.foryouth.co/go/the-forties-formula-system

Love Indus

Use code TFF for 21% off.

https://loveindus.com

Here's the updated full description:

Your headaches, neck pain, and poor posture might not be perimenopause. They might be your bra.

In this episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin and Amanda sit down with Caroline Warren, founder of Supporting Eve — Singapore's specialist bra fitting boutique — for a conversation that will make you want to check your bra the moment you finish listening.

Most women have never had a professional bra fitting. Most are guessing their size. And according to Caroline, 80 to 95% of the women who walk through her door are in the wrong size bra — not slightly off, significantly off.

We cover everything nobody taught us. Why your black bra is a smaller size than your white one. Why your straps are not actually supporting you. What the centre of your bra should be doing against your chestbone. How a bra that doesn't fit is linked to migraines, shoulder tension, forward posture, and lost confidence. And why the Victorian sizing system that still governs every bra size you have ever worn makes almost no sense for a modern body.

Caroline also shares her own experience of going through the menopause at 38, how her body changed, and why the conversation around bras, breast health, and body changes in midlife is one women are simply not having enough.

If you have ever whipped your bra off the moment you get home and thought that was just normal — this episode is for you.

👉 Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/DCJpoPVSd1s

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Intro: Is Your Bra Causing Your Pain? 00:17 Why C-Cup & Above Need Real Support 01:36 Is It Hormones or Is It Your Bra? Headaches, Neck & Posture 02:21 Why No One Ever Taught Us How Bras Should Fit 03:38 Why Store Tape Measures Get It Wrong 04:59 What to Expect in a Proper Bra Fitting 05:10 The Fit by Sight Method Explained 06:07 The 80% Rule: Your Band Does The Work, Not Your Straps 07:44 Test 1: The Band Test — The 3-5cm Rule 08:30 Test 2: The Centre Gore Must Sit Flush 09:02 Why a D Is Not a D — Cup Size Changes With Band Size 11:10 Watch the Full Episode with Caroline Warren

ABOUT CAROLINE WARREN & SUPPORTING EVE

Caroline Warren is the founder of Supporting Eve, Singapore's specialist bra fitting boutique. Supporting Eve carries the widest bra size range in Singapore — A to K cup, 28 to 44 band — and uses a fit by sight technique rather than a tape measure, because no two bodies are the same.

📍 Cluny Court, Bukit Timah — opposite Botanic Gardens MRT, Second Floor 🕐 Open seven days a week, 10am — 7pm 🌐 supportingeve.sg

FIND US HERE

🎧 Search The Forties Formula wherever you get your podcasts 📥 Download our free wellness guide: https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/2156555/sites/185865618324457283/the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin-wn3zmn

TAGS: bra fitting guide, perimenopause symptoms, women's health, bra fitting, signs of perimenopause, menopause, womens health, neck pain, back pain relief, midlife women, women over 40, the forties formula, supporting eve, bra size, breast health

Your reaction is never about what just happened.

When something small sets you off — a look, a tone, a moment that should not matter — it is rarely about the moment itself. In your 40s, life becomes an explosive combination of change: your body, your relationships, your sense of self, all shifting at once. Conflict is quietly building — with yourself, with the people closest to you, with who you used to be.

This week, Avni Martin — ICF Master Certified Coach, founder of The Martin Institute and author of Happy Ever After — joins Jasmin and Amanda to explain where conflict actually comes from, why it gets louder in midlife, and what it is trying to tell you.

We cover the three parts behind every conflict, why your perception is not the truth, what your childhood needs have to do with your biggest relationship triggers, and how to train the emotional muscle that changes everything. Avni also shares a deeply personal story about conflict with her teenage daughter — and how what looked like a battle turned out to be grief.

00:00 The quieter battle of your 40s

02:15 Why midlife creates internal conflict

03:22 Is conflict different for our generation

05:30 The three things behind every conflict

07:17 Why relational intelligence matters

08:45 Learning to think about how we think

09:08 When two people talk but nobody listens

10:08 Why thinking long-term changes your reactions

11:47 Training your conflict muscle

12:25 Conflict is the messenger

15:12 Your perception is not the truth

16:03 How beliefs shape everything you see

17:23 The role of empathy in conflict

17:39 Why small things trigger big reactions

20:40 The subconscious volcano

21:16 The childhood needs behind your triggers

23:11 We are meaning-making machines

24:03 Upgrading your inner programming

27:08 How inner work changes conflict

27:41 Avni's journey from zero self-worth to here

31:50 The HAPPY Coaching System

34:48 When habits live in the subconscious

40:06 The HAPPY System and conflict explained

41:14 Why pausing before action changes everything

44:27 Conflict with a teenage daughter

46:05 The grief underneath the conflict

47:38 From holding on to letting go

Avni Martin is an ICF Master Certified Coach, founder of The Martin Institute and creator of the HAPPY Coaching System. Get her book: https://amzn.asia/d/0d8zVnO6 Find her on IG: https://www.instagram.com/avni.martin/

Jasmin Dhillon is an Integrated Health Strategist helping women in their 40s navigate hormones, gut health and nutrition. https://www.instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin/

Amanda Lim is a Metabolic Health Coach helping women build strength and long-term health. https://www.instagram.com/coachamandalim/

For Youth — up to 35% off the Forties Formula bundle plus a free bottle of Unwind: https://www.foryouth.co/go/the-forties-formula-system

Cosy Earth — up to 31% off with code TFF

Love Indus — 21% off with code TFF: https://loveindus.com

Support the show: https://the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin.kit.com/products/buy-us-a-coffee

Are you in your 40s, successful on paper, but quietly wondering if any of it still fits? This episode explores why the most powerful leadership decision a woman can make in midlife might be choosing to walk away.

We're joined by leadership adviser and author Sally J. Clarke, who interviewed 40 women for her new book, Walk Away: Step Out to Step Up. She shares real stories of leaders who left toxic corporate cultures, misaligned roles, and outdated versions of success to build something more aligned — including women who went on to found and run their own companies.

We talk through how to tell the difference between an emotional reaction and a strategic decision to leave, why fear can act as a compass rather than a warning sign, and how Sally's concept of "integrity capital" — doing what you say you'll do — shapes trust in both leadership and family life. We also cover the burnout and health warning signs several of Sally's interviewees ignored before they made a change, and what separates a boss who tears people down from one who builds them up.

▶ Listen to the full episode: search The Forties Formula & Sally J. Clarke

Topics covered: midlife career change, toxic leadership, workplace burnout, executive coaching, strategic career decisions, women in leadership, corporate culture

Nervous system regulation, behaviour change and women's health in your 40s: Behaviour Change Strategist Leila Foster joins Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim on The Forties Formula to explore why lasting change is so hard, even when we genuinely want it.

Leila works at the intersection of behaviour change, wellness and nervous-system regulation, drawing on personal experience as a mother of three, a new mum and a business owner with her husband.

They explore why our brains return to familiar patterns, how chronic stress affects our ability to change, why expectations create resentment, and how to recognise when a trigger isn't actually about you.

Leila also opens up about divorce, blended family life, shared parenting and running a business with her husband. Jasmin and Amanda share their very different experiences with 9D Breathwork.

Finally, Leila shares her 40s formula: stop doing what you're told, make micro-adjustments, know your season, hold your paradox, ask for help, and never outsource your decisions.

Nervous system regulation, neuroplasticity, expectations & resentment, inherited trauma, Breathwork, blended families & divorce, sharing the parenting load, conflict resolution

Chapters:

00:00 Why knowing isn't enough to create change

02:17 Your nervous system on a normal Tuesday

04:01 "Is it about you?"

05:30 Expectations, stress and resentment

08:17 The biology of inherited patterns

11:08 Stress, the brain and old programming

15:03 Neuroplasticity and the six pillars of wellness

15:55 Is the problem the fish or the fish tank?

16:43 Breaking out of emotional spirals

21:35 What happens during 9D Breathwork

25:09 Why the same experience affects us differently

28:58 Divorce and building a blended family

35:05 Sharing the parenting load and running a business with your spouse

44:15 The calendar invite that can save a relationship

47:00 Leila's 40s Formula

About our guest Leila Foster is a Behaviour Change Strategist and Wellness Architect working at the intersection of behaviour change, wellness and nervous-system regulation. https://www.instagram.com/birthbossmama/

About your hosts Jasmin Dhillon, Integrated Health Strategist and Health Coach for women in their 40s. https://www.instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin/

Amanda Lim, Metabolic Health Coach focused on strength, confidence and long-term health. https://www.instagram.com/coachamanda/

Get our free Wellness Guide Free digital wellness guide plus future episodes straight to your inbox: https://the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin.kit.com/

Support the podcast Enjoyed this? Subscribe and share it. You can also support the show by Buying Us a Coffee: https://the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin.kit.com/products/buy-us-a-coffee

Thank you to our sponsors

For Youth Support your skin, recovery, sleep and longevity with The Forties Formula System. Code TF35 for up to 35% off storewide. https://www.foryouth.co/go/the-forties-formula-system

Love Indus Code TFF for 21% off. https://loveindus.com

Around age 40 to 42, everyone goes through the Uranus opposition — the point where Uranus sits directly opposite its position in your birth chart, roughly halfway through its 84-year orbit. Yi Mei Lai from Alchemei Healing joins The Forties Formula to explain why this transit tends to trigger a reckoning between who you've been and who you're becoming, and why it often lines up with the physiological changes already underway in your 40s.

May breaks down what feminine energy actually means (it isn't about gender or appearance, but a yin/yang balance of receptive versus active energy), why so many women over-rely on masculine "proving" energy — disconnection from the body, low creativity, inability to rest — and why the cost of that imbalance shows up as burnout. She also covers why boundaries are essential to reclaiming feminine energy, and why intuition, not more information, is what actually guides women through this transition.

In this episode:

• What the Uranus opposition is and why it occurs at age 40 to 42
• Why this transit coincides with midlife identity and purpose questions
• The difference between feminine and masculine energy, and why it isn't about gender
• Signs a woman is overly in her masculine energy: disconnection from the body, low creativity, inability to rest
• Why boundaries are essential to feminine energy and how to start setting them
• Why intuition, not more information, is the way through
• How stillness and reconnecting with the body reveal what the mind cannot

The Forties Formula is a weekly podcast on perimenopause, menopause, hormones, and health for women in their 40s — covering weight loss, sleep, low libido, ADHD, burnout, longevity and the body changes no one explains.

Hosted by Jasmin Dhillon, health strategist at Eat with Jasmin, and Amanda Lim, metabolic health coach and director at LIFT Clinic.

Join our community of women and get our weekly newsletter, Forty Tude — receive a free wellness guide as a thank you: https://the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin.kit.com/

Keywords: Uranus opposition, astrology, midlife, women in their 40s, feminine energy, masculine energy, boundaries, intuition, self-discovery, identity, purpose

In this episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim are joined by podiatrist Paul Macaulay to explore one of the most overlooked aspects of women's health: foot health in midlife.

From pregnancy and perimenopause to years of wearing the wrong shoes, our feet go through enormous changes that can affect everything from plantar fasciitis and bunions to knee pain, hip pain, back pain, balance, and long-term mobility.

Paul explains why most women are wearing the wrong shoe size, how hormones change our tendons and ligaments, why "comfortable" shoes aren't always the healthiest choice, and the simple changes that can dramatically improve foot health for decades to come.

Chapters:

00:00 | Why Women Ignore Foot Pain for Too Long

00:57 | Why Your Feet Affect Your Whole Body

03:12 | Why Women Keep Buying the Wrong Shoes

05:26 | The Biggest Mistake People Make When Buying Running Shoes

06:40 | Finding the Right Shoe for Your Foot Type

08:21 | The Shoe Sizing Mistake Most Women Make

10:29 | How Pregnancy Permanently Changes Your Feet

12:27 | Why You May Need Different Shoes After Pregnancy

14:45 | Have Fashion Choices Damaged Our Feet?

16:18 | The Smarter Way to Wear Heels

18:00 | How Perimenopause Changes Your Feet

20:40 | The Most Common Foot Problems After 40

22:03 | How Many Pairs of Shoes Do You Actually Need?

24:26 | Barefoot Shoes: Helpful or Harmful?

26:43 | The Best Exercises for Stronger Feet

31:17 | Why Strong Calves Matter More Than You Think

31:45 | Can Your Feet Cause Knee, Hip & Back Pain?

33:51 | Do Orthotics Really Work?

36:16 | Are There Any Stylish Heels That Are Actually Good?

39:03 | The Shoe Brand Paul Macaulay Recommends

42:42 | Do Reflexology & Foot Soaks Actually Help?

45:13 | The Best Foot Care Routine for Healthy Feet

48:41 | Do Toe Spacers Actually Work?

50:16 | The Best Strength Exercises to Prevent Foot Pain

54:04 | Paul's Forties Formula

About our guest

Paul Macaulay is a podiatrist specialising in foot pain, biomechanics, running injuries and lower-limb rehabilitation. Through his clinic and educational content, he helps people understand how better footwear, stronger feet, and smarter movement can improve long-term mobility, performance and quality of life.

About your hosts

Jasmin Dhillon is an Integrated Health Strategist and Health Coach helping women in their 40s navigate gut health, hormones and nutrition.

https://www.instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin/

Amanda Lim is a Metabolic Health Coach focused on helping women build strength, confidence and long-term health.

https://www.instagram.com/coachamanda/

Support the podcast

If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe and share this episode with someone dealing with foot pain, bunions, plantar fasciitis, or anyone who wants to stay active and mobile through midlife.

You can also support the show by Buying Us a Coffee:

https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula

The Forties Formula is a weekly podcast on perimenopause, menopause, hormones, and health for women in their 40s — covering weight loss, sleep, low libido, ADHD, burnout, longevity and the body changes no one explains.

Join our community of women and get our weekly newsletter, Forty Tude — receive a free wellness guide as a thank you: https://the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin.kit.com/

This episode is for every woman who has felt like motherhood changed her more than she expected, and for anyone trying to understand why so many mothers struggle silently behind the scenes. The problem isn't that women are failing at motherhood — the expectations were impossible to begin with.

Author and workplace consultant Sara Pantry joins The Forties Formula to unpack matrescence — the profound psychological and neurological transition into motherhood, similar in scale to adolescence but almost never named or prepared for. Sara shares the brain science behind it (grey matter changes so measurable that AI can identify a mother's brain scan with full accuracy), her own experience of birth trauma, breastfeeding struggles and postpartum anxiety, and the concept of the "invisible postpartum" — the parts of recovery, identity loss and hormonal upheaval that go unacknowledged, especially after pregnancy loss.

Sara also introduces "second best parenting," a framework for making evidence-based decisions without chasing an impossible ideal, and talks through her work with Return, a peer-to-peer mentoring programme supporting mothers returning to work after leave.

We talk about:

• Why motherhood can feel emotionally overwhelming even when you "wanted this"
• What matrescence actually means, and why more women are finally talking about it
• The invisible identity shift that happens after having children
• Why so many women feel isolated after birth
• The pressure to "bounce back," and why it's harming mothers
• The invisible postpartum: what it is and why pregnancy loss deserves the same recognition
• How workplaces are failing mothers returning from maternity leave, and what needs to change

About the guest

Sara Pantry is an author and workplace consultant specialising in matrescence and the transition into motherhood. She is the founder of Return, a peer-to-peer mentoring programme for mothers returning to work, and runs "From Me to We," a monthly lean-in circle for working mothers in Singapore.

About The Forties Formula

The Forties Formula is a weekly podcast on perimenopause, menopause, hormones, and health for women in their 40s — covering weight loss, sleep, low libido, ADHD, burnout, longevity and the body changes no one explains.

Hosted by Jasmin Dhillon, health strategist at Eat with Jasmin, and Amanda Lim, metabolic health coach and director at LIFT Clinic.

Connect and support the show

Join our community of women and get our weekly newsletter, Forty Tude — receive a free wellness guide as a thank you: https://the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin.kit.com/

Support the show for $5 a month and get access to ad-free bonus episodes where we answer your questions: buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula

Got a question on weight, energy, hormones or not feeling like yourself? Send it to us on Instagram @thefortiesformula and we'll answer it on the show.

What happens when you wake up one day and realise you've lost yourself inside your relationship?

In this deeply honest conversation, Amanda Lim and Jasmin Dhillon sit down with registered psychotherapist & integrated sex & relationship therapist, Cheryl Kennedy McDonald to unpack the invisible process of identity loss in long-term relationships. From self-concept erosion and trauma bonds to gaslighting, narcissistic abuse and the emotional reality of divorce, this episode explores why so many women stay, how toxic relationship patterns develop, and what it truly takes to rebuild your sense of self.

Cheryl explains why leaving isn't simply about willpower, how childhood experiences shape the relationships we accept, and why healing requires far more than just moving on. Whether you're navigating divorce, questioning your relationship, supporting a loved one, or simply wanting to understand the psychology behind these patterns, this conversation offers practical insights with compassion and clarity.

Chapters

00:00 – When you no longer recognise yourself

01:03 – Meet psychotherapist Cheryl Kennedy McDonald

02:38 – What is self-concept erosion?

04:16 – Healthy change vs losing yourself

06:38 – Healthy conflict vs toxic conflict

06:50 – Why women stay in unhealthy relationships

08:07 – Trauma bonds explained

09:52 – What gaslighting actually looks like

12:15 – How to break free from a toxic relationship

14:01 – Understanding narcissistic personality disorder

17:02 – Love bombing and the dopamine cycle

19:44 – Co-parenting with a narcissist

22:06 – Male vs female narcissists

24:06 – Divorce, grief & rebuilding your identity

28:10 – Learning to be comfortable alone

30:42 – Healing after divorce & dating again

34:23 – Can narcissists ever change?

36:22 – Sponsor: Love Indus

37:18 – Practical steps to rebuild your life after divorce

39:07 – How relationship stress affects your body

41:00 – Can a narcissist have a healthy relationship?

43:22 – Cheryl's Forties Formula

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About your hosts:

Amanda Lim is a Metabolic Health Coach and Director at The Lift Clinic in Singapore, focused on helping women build strength and long-term metabolic health.

Jasmin Dhillon is an Integrated Health Strategist helping women in their 40s manage health through lifestyle interventions across gut health, hormones and nutrition.

Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformula/](https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformula/)

Thank you to our sponsors:

For Youth | Use code TF35 for up to 35% off storewide → (http://www.foryouth.co/go/the-forties-formula-system)

Cozy Earth | Use code TFF for up to 31% off → (https://cozyearth.com)

Love Indus | Use code TFF for 21% off → https://loveindus.com(https://loveindus.com)

Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Buy us a coffee: [https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula](https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula)

If you're raising a daughter, working with young people, or simply trying to understand the pressures girls face today, this episode will shift how you see it all.

This episode explores the impact of social dynamics and peer relationships on girls during adolescence, and why puberty and hormonal changes are arriving earlier than in previous generations. We break down why peer acceptance carries such disproportionate emotional weight for girls specifically — driven by measurable differences in how the brain's social and self-evaluation regions develop — and why social media validation (likes, comments, follows) affects girls' self-esteem and confidence more than boys'. We also cover appearance-based comparison, body image, and why the loneliest demographic today isn't older adults, but 18 to 24 year olds raised on constant online connection.

We have covered:

• The subtle signs your daughter may be struggling (that are easy to miss)
• Why puberty is starting earlier and what it means
• The role of hormones in mood, sleep and behaviour
• How social media is shaping self-worth and identity
• Why friendships matter more than you realise
• The truth about body image in young girls today
• How parents can build connection before adolescence hits
• What actually helps girls feel confident, seen and supported

About the guest

Dr. Gina Dahel from Osler Health and Dr. Emma Waddington of Us Therapy and host of Life's Dirty Little Secrets.

About The Forties Formula

The Forties Formula is a weekly podcast on perimenopause, menopause, hormones, and health for women in their 40s — covering weight loss, sleep, low libido, ADHD, burnout, longevity and the body changes no one explains.

Hosted by Jasmin Dhillon, health strategist at Eat with Jasmin, and Amanda Lim, metabolic health coach and director at LIFT Clinic.

Connect and support the show

Join our community of women and get our weekly newsletter, Forty Tude — receive a free wellness guide as a thank you: https://the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin.kit.com/

Support the show for $5 a month and get access to ad-free bonus episodes where we answer your questions: buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula

Got a question on weight, energy, hormones or not feeling like yourself? Send it to us on Instagram @thefortiesformula and we'll answer it on the show.

Keywords in: adolescence, puberty, hormones, social media, self-worth, identity, teen girls, body image, friendships, parenting daughters

In this episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim are joined by obesity medicine physician Dr. Christle Gueverra to unpack one of the most polarising topics in women's health today: GLP-1 medications.

Are drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro simply "weight loss injections" or are they finally treating a biological problem that millions of women have been blamed for their entire lives?

Drawing from both her medical expertise and her own personal experience using GLP-1 therapy, Dr. Christle explains why so many women in their 40s suddenly struggle with weight, appetite and metabolic health. Together, they explore what these medications actually do inside the brain and body, who they're appropriate for, the risks and side effects to understand, and why medication is only one part of the long-term solution.

Most importantly, this conversation shifts the narrative away from shame and willpower, helping women understand that obesity is a chronic medical condition, not a personal failure.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why GLP-1 medications have become one of the biggest breakthroughs in obesity treatment

• Why weight gain in your 40s isn't simply about eating less and exercising more

• How hormones, hunger signals and the brain influence appetite and body weight

• Dr. Christle’s personal experience using GLP-1 medication as a physician

• The difference between Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and other GLP-1 medications

• Common side effects and how to minimise them safely

• Why preserving muscle mass is critical while losing weight

• Protein, resistance training and nutrition strategies that support healthy fat loss

• Why obesity should be treated as a chronic disease rather than a character flaw

• How to build sustainable habits that last beyond medication

Chapters

00:00 | Why Are So Many Women Turning to GLP-1 Medications?

01:42 | Meet Dr. Christle Gueverra

02:34 | Why Weight Isn't Just About Willpower

05:18 | Dr. Christle's Personal GLP-1 Journey

08:14 | How GLP-1 Medications Actually Work

12:06 | Who Is (And Isn't) A Good Candidate?

16:15 | Common Side Effects & What To Expect

21:10 | Why Protein Matters More Than Ever

24:48 | The Biggest Mistakes Women Make On GLP-1s

29:30 | Strength Training While Losing Weight

34:15 | Can You Stop Taking GLP-1 Medication?

38:52 | Obesity, Shame & Changing The Conversation

43:18 | Long-Term Success Beyond The Medication

47:36 | Dr. Christle's Forties Formula

About our guest:

Dr. Christle Gueverra is a sports medicine physician dedicated to helping people improve their metabolic health through evidence-based medicine and sustainable lifestyle change.

About The Forties Formula

Hosted by Jasmin Dhillon, health strategist at Eat with Jasmin, and Amanda Lim, metabolic health coach and director at LIFT Clinic.

Connect and support the show

Join our community of women and get our weekly newsletter, Forty Tude — receive a free wellness guide as a thank you: https://the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin.kit.com/

Support the show for $5 a month and get access to ad-free bonus episodes where we answer your questions: buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula

Got a question on weight, energy, hormones or not feeling like yourself? Send it to us on Instagram @thefortiesformula and we'll answer it on the show.

You can also support the show by Buying Us a Coffee:

https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula

This episode explores the challenges of maintaining a rigid self-image and how it impacts our emotional resilience. We discuss the importance of cultivating self awareness and recognizing that true self-worth comes from within. Ultimately, finding inner peace requires letting go of inflexible self-perceptions, encouraging personal growth and valuable life lessons. 💛

In this episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim are joined by women's health physician Dr. Sital Khistriya to unpack one of the biggest changes in women's health in decades: the proposed renaming of PCOS to PMOS (Poly-Endocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome).

Why does this matter? Because experts now believe we've been treating PCOS as an ovarian condition when it's actually a lifelong metabolic disorder driven primarily by insulin resistance. This shift has huge implications for diagnosis, fertility, pregnancy, perimenopause, menopause, cardiovascular health, and how millions of women are treated around the world.

Chapters

00:00 | Have We Been Misunderstanding PCOS All Along?

01:48 | Why Experts Want to Rename PCOS to PMOS

03:01 | What PMOS Really Means (And Why Ovarian Cysts Aren't the Problem)

04:25 | How PCOS Got Its Name

04:33 | How PMOS Is Diagnosed

05:51 | Can You Have PMOS Without Ovarian Cysts?

07:04 | Can PMOS Develop Later in Life?

08:22 | The Overlooked Symptoms Most Women Don't Know About

09:41 | What Parents Should Watch for in Teenage Girls

12:20 | Birth Control: Treatment or Band-Aid?

16:03 | PMOS, Fertility & Trying to Conceive

17:27 | Lifestyle Changes That Improve Fertility

18:16 | The Best Diet for Insulin Resistance

19:35 | Metformin, GLP-1s & Modern Treatment Options

20:55 | What Happens If PMOS Goes Undiagnosed Until Your 40s?

23:17 | Why PMOS Still Matters After You've Had Children

25:06 | How PMOS Differs Across Ethnicities

27:28 | The Hidden Signs of Insulin Resistance

30:35 | Does PMOS End After Menopause?

31:15 | Why Perimenopause Can Make PMOS Worse

32:53 | Why Strength Training Improves Insulin Resistance

34:58 | Changing Women's Mindset Around Muscle

39:25 | Will the PMOS Name Change Improve Treatment?

41:00 | Should It Have Been Named Something Else?

42:54 | Hot or Hype? Keto, Metformin, Inositol & Ovulation Tests

47:26 | Dr. Sital’s Forties Formula

48:12 | Final Thoughts

About our guest:

Dr. Sital Khistryia is a women's health physician with a special interest in hormones, metabolic health, perimenopause and preventive medicine. She helps women better understand the connection between insulin resistance, reproductive health and long-term wellbeing.

About your hosts:

Jasmin Dhillon is an Integrated Health Strategist and Health Coach helping women in their 40s navigate gut health, hormones and nutrition.

https://www.instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin/

Amanda Lim is a Metabolic Health Coach focused on helping women build strength, confidence and long-term health.

https://www.instagram.com/coachamanda/

Support the podcast:

If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe and share this episode with someone living with PCOS, insulin resistance, fertility concerns, or navigating perimenopause.

You can also support the show by Buying Us a Coffee:

https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula

The discussion about diet culture and the weight loss industry highlights its pervasive influence as a multi-billion dollar business, often shaping our "social norms." We explore how this "diet trend" can contribute to harmful "eating disorders" and impact our relationship with "food culture." This conversation emphasizes the deep societal embedding of these ideas.

Hosted by Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim

Connect with Amanda & Jasmin: https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformula/

Jasmin Dhillon - https://www.instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin

Amanda Lim - https://www.instagram.com/coachamandalim

In this episode of The Forties Formula, we explore why midlife can become a turning point for relationships. We unpack how changing priorities, emotional needs, resentment, intimacy, communication, motherhood, and self-worth all influence the decisions women make during this stage of life.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why so many women begin questioning their relationships after 40

• How perimenopause can influence emotions, identity and relationships

• The hidden resentment that quietly builds over the years

• Why communication, not compatibility, is often the real issue

• Marriage, motherhood and the invisible mental load

• Rebuilding intimacy and emotional connection

• When therapy can genuinely help a relationship

• Dating after 40 and whether "having standards" has gone too far

• The biggest relationship red flags to watch for in midlife

• Why choosing yourself doesn't always mean leaving your relationship

---

Chapters:

00:00 | Why Women Suddenly Question Their Relationships After 40

02:45 | What Changes in Your 40s? Identity, Priorities & Self-Worth

05:03 | Why Many Women Stay Single Rather Than Settle

08:05 | Do Women Become "Too Picky" or Simply More Self-Aware?

10:03 | Relationship Patterns That Keep Repeating

12:31 | Marriage, Children & The Pressure of Timelines

14:26 | Divorce Rates, Expectations & Modern Relationships

16:16 | Sex, Intimacy & Changing Needs in Midlife

20:03 | Why Communication Is the Foundation of Every Relationship

21:50 | When Individual or Couples Therapy Can Help

25:01 | Healing Sexual Wounds & Reconnecting With Yourself

30:02 | Why Self-Discovery Can Transform Your Relationship

35:04 | Self-Love vs Selfishness: Knowing the Difference

40:00 | Everyday Partnership, Respect & Sharing the Mental Load

45:02 | Dating After 40: Looking Beyond First Impressions

50:03 | Dating Apps in Your 40s — Hype or Helpful?

51:23 | Fear of Loneliness & Settling for the Wrong Partner

55:06 | Time Pressure, Midlife & Making Better Relationship Decisions

58:30 | Final Thoughts: Building Relationships That Truly Last

About your hosts:

Jasmin Dhillon is an Integrated Health Strategist and Health Coach helping women in their 40s navigate gut health, hormones and nutrition.

https://www.instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin/

Amanda Lim is a Metabolic Health Coach focused on helping women build strength, confidence and long-term health.

https://www.instagram.com/coachamanda/

Support the podcast:

If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe and share this episode with someone who may be questioning their relationship, navigating midlife changes, or looking for a healthier, happier future.

You can also support the show by Buying Us a Coffee:

https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula

Thank you to our sponsors:

Love Indus

Use code TFF for 21% off

https://loveindus.com

summary

In this clip of The Forties Formula, Amanda and Jasmin explore the nuances of conscious parenting, emotional regulation, and repairing family relationships. They share personal stories, challenge stereotypes, and offer practical insights for mindful parenting and self-compassion.

conscious parenting, emotional regulation, repair relationships, tiger mom, self-compassion, family dynamics, parenting tips

Is gentle parenting just letting your kids do whatever they want? A parenting educator explains why conscious parenting still needs a hierarchy — and why apologising to your children when you get it wrong builds more trust than never getting it wrong at all.

Parenting educator Cornelia Dahinten and self professed Tiger Mon Annabel Chew break down what conscious parenting actually means: not permissiveness, but a deliberate awareness of your own triggers, your rules, and your emotional responses.

Jasmin shares a real example of losing her temper with her son and having to repair it the next day — and the conversation moves into rupture and repair, the idea that how you fix a conflict with your child matters more than avoiding conflict altogether.

Watch the full episode for the complete conversation on Asian vs Western parenting stereotypes, tiger parenting, and raising confident kids: https://youtu.be/4Qf7Wj5cbZU

Chapters

00:00 Cultural Collision: Asian vs. Western Parenting

00:57 Conscious Parenting: Balancing Authority and Understanding

04:38 The Concept of Repair in Parenting

08:39 Tiger Mom: Expectations vs. Reality

Resources

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013AX4A4 Rupture and Repair in Relationships

- Article - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/compassion-matters/201911/rupture-and-repair-in-relationships

Amanda & Jasmin's Podcast - https://thefortiesformula.com

conscious parenting, gentle parenting, parenting styles, how to apologize to your child, rupture and repair, parenting guilt, boundaries for kids, emotionally healthy parenting, daniel siegel parenting, calm parenting strategies, parenting mistakes, parenting advice, mum guilt, tiger parenting, authoritative parenting, parenting styles, respect in parenting, validating children's feelings

Have you ever completely lost your temper… and then immediately wondered, "What's wrong with me?"

If you're finding yourself more irritable, more reactive, or snapping at the people you love in your 40s, you're not alone… and it may have far less to do with your personality than you think.

This week, we're joined by psychotherapist, bestselling author and host of The Therapy Edit podcast, Anna Mathur, to unpack why so many women experience anger, overwhelm and rage during midlife. Together, we explore the hidden emotional load women carry, how perimenopause changes our stress response, why guilt keeps us stuck, and the small shifts that can help us feel like ourselves again.

From learning the difference between anger and rage, to spotting the warning signs before you explode, repairing relationships after you've snapped, and finally giving yourself permission to rest without guilt… this conversation is filled with compassionate, practical tools every woman needs.

If you've ever thought, "I don't recognise myself anymore," this episode is for you.

Chapters

00:00 | Why are we snapping at the people we love?

02:08 | Anna's breaking point after motherhood & the pandemic

05:48 | The shame every woman feels after losing her temper

06:54 | Anger vs. rage: why they're not the same thing

09:10 | The "boiling pot" analogy every woman needs

10:42 | Amanda's shocking anger management story

14:22 | The warning signs you're about to snap

16:50 | Good girl conditioning & why women can't rest

19:20 | Why rest feels so uncomfortable (and even selfish)

23:56 | How perimenopause changes your brain's stress response

26:21 | "I can't even be sick." The invisible mental load of motherhood

28:35 | Why you have to stop waiting for permission to take care of yourself

32:03 | Sleep, cortisol & why everything feels harder when you're exhausted

35:04 | Your phone isn't helping you rest

37:20 | What to do after you've snapped at someone you love

41:34 | The repair technique every parent should know

43:43 | When the problem isn't really about the dishes

46:37 | Why burnout happens—and why some women can't stop until they crash

49:36 | Two simple practices to start changing this week

52:06 | Stop asking "What's wrong with me?"

54:05 | Anna's new book: How to Stop Snapping at the People You Love

About your hosts:

Jasmin Dhillon is an Integrated Health Strategist and Health Coach helping women in their 40s navigate gut health, hormones and nutrition.

https://www.instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin

Amanda Lim is a Metabolic Health Coach focused on helping women build strength, confidence and long-term health.

https://www.instagram.com/coachamanda

Support the podcast:

If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe and share with someone who needs to hear this. You can also support the show by Buying Us a Coffee:

https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula

Thank you to our sponsors:

Love Indus:

Use code TFF for 21% off

https://loveindus.com

Why do so many women stay quiet… even when they don’t agree?

In this 5-minute clip from The Forties Formula, we explore how early conditioning, cultural norms, and workplace dynamics shape the way we communicate — and why so many of us hold back, even when we have something important to say.

Featuring global communication expert Heather Hansen, this conversation breaks down the hidden patterns behind confidence, voice, and visibility — especially for women navigating midlife and leadership.

What you’ll learn:

• How childhood conditioning shapes the way we use our voice • Why confidence isn’t always the issue — socialisation is • The real reason women hesitate to speak up at work • How cultural definitions of “respect” influence communication • Why psychological safety matters more than perfect communication • A framework for speaking with more confidence, clarity, and connection

Timestamps

00:00 – How children perceive voices and social cues 00:15 – Gender differences in socialisation 00:43 – Confidence vs conditioning in the workplace 01:07 – Why women hesitate to apply for roles 01:33 – The “workaround” mindset 02:02 – Non-confrontational behaviour and real-life reflection 02:31 – Cultural definitions of respect 02:57 – Cultural clashes in global workplaces 03:23 – Conscious, confident, connected communication 03:52 – Why people mute themselves 04:20 – Creating psychologically safe environments

Listen to the full episode

https://youtu.be/wv9wSqzdI_8?si=WIrFTSP0PIpdpBFX

Search The Forties Formula wherever you get your podcasts.

Resources

Unmuted: How to Show Up, Speak Up, and Inspire Action https://amzn.asia/d/0duLIMXY

Support the show

https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula

For $5 a month, you’ll get a dedicated episode where we answer your questions — from confidence and communication to health, energy, and everything in between.

Keywords

women speaking up, confidence in your 40s, communication skills, executive presence, women in leadership, midlife confidence, accent bias, global communication, personal development, podcast clip

Most women are told they’re “cleared” at six weeks postpartum. But according to sports medicine physician Dr. Morgan Lee, that clearance has very little to do with true recovery.

In this episode of The Forties Formula, Dr. Morgan explains why so many women continue to struggle with pelvic floor dysfunction, diastasis recti, back pain, weakness, injuries, and exercise setbacks years after having children—and why these symptoms are often dismissed as “just getting older.”

Drawing on her experience working with elite athletes, Dr. Morgan shares why mothers should be treated like athletes during recovery, how pregnancy fundamentally changes the body, and what women can do, whether they gave birth six months ago or ten years ago—to rebuild strength, function, and confidence.

If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to recover after pregnancy, this conversation is for you.

---

In This Episode

• Why the six-week postpartum clearance is a lie

• The truth about "bouncing back" after pregnancy

• Why many women are exercising in bodies that never fully healed

• Pelvic floor dysfunction and why it's not normal

• The athlete approach to postpartum recovery

• How pregnancy impacts strength, mobility, and performance

• Diastasis recti, core recovery, and rebuilding function

• Why it's never too late to improve postpartum symptoms

• The role of movement, walking, and exercise after birth

• How pregnancy preparation can improve postpartum outcomes

---

Chapters

00:00 Why Most Women Never Fully Recover After Pregnancy

01:21 Meet Dr. Morgan Lee: Treating Mothers Like Athletes

02:02 The Problem With the Six-Week Postpartum Clearance

04:24 Why Bounce-Back Culture Is Hurting Women

07:00 What Real Postpartum Recovery Should Look Like

10:41 Why Having Children Later Changes Recovery

12:25 The Athlete Approach to Postpartum Healing

13:56 Is It Too Late to Recover After Pregnancy?

16:26 Pelvic Floor Problems, Leaking & Why It's Not Normal

19:15 How Dr. Morgan Evaluates Postpartum Recovery

21:21 Motherhood Is More Physical Than You Think

23:53 How To Prepare During Pregnancy For Better Recovery

28:17 Why Walking Beats Bed Rest After Birth

31:10 Movement, Mental Health & Postpartum Recovery

33:25 Belly Binding, Core Recovery & Common Myths

35:39 Pregnancy Is More Athletic Than You Think

37:38 How To Rebuild Strength After Childbirth

42:36 Diastasis Recti: What Every Woman Should Know

-

Connect with Dr. Lara Morgan:Instagram: @sportdrmorgan

About your hosts:

Jasmin Dhillon is an Integrated Health Strategist and Health Coach helping women in their 40s navigate gut health, hormones and nutrition. https://www.instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin/

Amanda Lim is a Metabolic Health Coach focused on helping women build strength, confidence and long-term health. https://www.instagram.com/coachamandalim/?hl=en

Thank you to our sponsors: Love Indus: Use code TFF for 21% off https://loveindus.com

Postpartum recovery, postpartum fitness, pelvic floor, diastasis recti, C-section recovery, women in their 40s, perimenopause fitness, bounce back myth, sports medicine, postpartum health, belly binding, core reconnection, motherhood fitness, postpartum exercise, women's health, forties formula podcast

The Power of Hormones, Lifestyle & Self Compassion in Women's Health in Their 40s This is a clip from The Forties Formula in Focus with hosts Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim with @drolivialesslar .

It focuses on navigating women's health in midlife, especially addressing hormonal changes during perimenopause, the influence of lifestyle, and the importance of self-compassion. Challenge outdated narratives and highlight practical strategies to thrive in your 40s and beyond.

In this episode:

- How hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has evolved and its neuroprotective benefits

- Common misconceptions around HRT and breast cancer fears

- The significance of early intervention during perimenopause within a therapeutic window

- The impact of lifestyle factors like protein intake, movement, and grounding on health outcomes

- The role of interoception, intuition, and validating women's pain and experience

- Understanding mental and emotional resilience as a key pillar for thriving in midlife

- The influence of social media, cultural conditioning, and intergenerational trauma on body image and health

- The potential of wearable technology to support, not replace, bodily awareness

Timestamps: 0:00 HRT and breast cancer risk explained

0:28 HRT today vs old hormone therapy differences

0:56 Why you need an informed HRT doctor

1:26 Estrogen benefits for brain, immunity and hormones

1:56 Perimenopause symptoms caused by low estrogen

2:22 Why midlife symptoms are all connected

2:52 HRT myths and breast cancer fears explained

3:14 Early perimenopause symptoms and misdiagnosis

3:43 Premature ovarian failure and hormone therapy decision

4:07 Best time to start HRT and why timing matters

4:27 ADHD, autism and hormones in perimenopause (2E women)

4:57 Hormone imbalance risks and long-term health impact

Connect with Dr. Olivia Ly-Lesler: https://www.instagram.com/drolivialesslar/

Connect with Amanda & Jasmin: https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformula/

Jasmin Dhillon - https://www.instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin

Amanda Lim - https://www.instagram.com/coachamandalim

This episode emphasizes that thriving in your 40s is about understanding one's body, embracing the full spectrum of hormonal health, and practicing kindness toward oneself. The conversation invites women to reframe aging as an opportunity for growth, resilience, and love.

In today’s episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim sit down with counselor, walk-and-talk therapist, and self-described "Dad in Progress," Simon Parkin.

Motherhood isn't just exhausting because of sleepless nights. It's exhausting because of the invisible load—the planning, organizing, remembering, and emotional labor that keeps families running behind the scenes. While many fathers are showing up more than ever before, many mothers still find themselves carrying responsibilities that often go unseen and unacknowledged.

In this honest Father's Day conversation, Simon shares what emotionally available fatherhood really looks like, why communication often breaks down after children arrive, and how helping men become better partners and fathers can improve the wellbeing of the entire family.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The invisible load and why it creates resentment in relationships

• Why many fathers genuinely don't see the mental load mothers carry

• How communication changes after children and what couples can do about it

• The impact of childhood experiences on parenting styles

• Why men need safe spaces to talk about fatherhood and mental health

• Simon's philosophy of being a "Dad in Progress"

If you've ever felt alone inside motherhood, overwhelmed by the mental load, or frustrated that your partner doesn't seem to understand everything you're carrying, this episode is for you.

Chapters:

00:00 | The Invisible Load Mothers Carry

01:48 | Meet Simon Parkin

04:29 | Why Dads Feel Pressure To Get Fatherhood Right

08:39 | Why Mothers Become Resentful

12:18 | Dads Don't See The Mental Load

16:14 | Communication After Kids

23:43 | Walk-And-Talk Therapy

27:24 | Parenting Across Cultures

33:11 | The Haircut Story Every Parent Needs To Hear

37:01 | Why Men Don't Open Up

42:09 | The Hidden Struggles Of Fathers

47:19 | Happy Spouses, Happy Houses

49:09 | Simon's Fatherhood Formula

About your hosts:

Jasmin Dhillon is an Integrated Health Strategist and Health Coach helping women in their 40s navigate gut health, hormones and nutrition.

https://www.instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin/

Amanda Lim is a Metabolic Health Coach focused on helping women build strength, confidence and long-term health.

https://www.instagram.com/coachamandalim/?hl=en

About the Guest:

Simon Parkin is a counselor, walk-and-talk therapist, fatherhood advocate, and founder of Dad In Progress. Through his work, he helps men, fathers, and families build stronger relationships through communication, emotional awareness, and intentional parenting.

Support the podcast:

If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe and share with someone who needs to hear this. You can also support the show by "Buying Us a Coffee":

https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula

Thank you to our sponsors:

Love Indus:

Use code TFF for 21% off

https://loveindus.com

Menopause changes far more than your symptoms. In this episode, lifestyle medicine doctor Dr Sundus Hussain Morgan explains the silent health risks that arrive as oestrogen falls — to your heart, your bones, your brain and your metabolism — and how women in their forties can prevent and manage them.

Dr Sundus walks through the six pillars of health — nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, social connection and reducing harmful substances — with practical guidance on eating for menopause: a whole-food, plant-based diet rich in calcium, vitamin D, fibre and phytoestrogens. She clears up the common myths around phytoestrogens and perimenopause weight gain, and explains why strength training becomes non-negotiable in this decade.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Understanding Menopause and Its Risks

01:57 The Six Pillars of Health

07:01 Nutrition: Key Components for Women in Their 40s

07:06 The Importance of Strength Training

If your health concerns have ever been dismissed by a doctor, here's what to do next 👉 https://thefortiesformula.com/script

Want to start making changes today? Download our free ebook to begin building healthier lifestyle habits 👉 https://thefortiesformula.com/free-e-books

⏱️ Get tested. Eat for your bones and heart. Train for strength. Small lifestyle changes in your forties decide how you age for the next forty years.

🎙️ The Forties Formula — health, hormones and real talk for women in their 40s Hosted by Amanda Lim & Jasmin

Connect with us Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformula/ Amanda: https://www.instagram.com/coachamandalim/ Jasmin: https://www.instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin/

Our guest — Dr Sundus Hussain Morgan Profile: https://www.imc-healthcare.com/doctors/dr-sundus-hussain-morgan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifestyledocsingapore/

menopause, menopause symptoms, perimenopause, perimenopause weight gain, menopause and heart health, menopause bone health, menopause brain health, menopause metabolic health, lifestyle medicine, six pillars of health, how to lose weight in perimenopause, perimenopause diet, eating for menopause, menopause wellness, menopause support, menopause signs, stages of perimenopause, estrogen decline, women's health over 40, women in their forties, strength training menopause, phytoestrogens, calcium vitamin D bone health, menopause anxiety, Dr Sundus Hussain Morgan, lifestyle doctor Singapore, The Forties Formula

In today’s episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim sit down with attorney, healthcare privacy expert, entrepreneur, and mother of three, Lauren.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The hidden risks women should understand before starting birth control in midlife

• Why women's health research still leaves many unanswered questions

• The emotional impact of chronic illness and losing your former identity

• How Lauren went from a wheelchair to rebuilding her independence

• Integrative medicine, recovery, and finding answers beyond conventional care

• The role of therapy, gratitude, and mental resilience during health crises

• Raising empathetic children while living with an invisible disability

• How illness transformed her marriage, priorities, and definition of success

If you've ever felt frustrated by your body, struggled with your health, or wondered how to move forward when life doesn't go according to plan, this episode is for you.

Chapters:

00:00:00 | The Health Crisis That Changed Everything

00:02:45 | Meet Lauren

00:03:44 | The Symptoms Nobody Expected

00:06:18 | The ER Visit & Blood Clot Diagnosis

00:08:09 | Brain Fog, Fatigue & Losing Independence

00:09:51 | Migraines, Birth Control & Risk Factors

00:12:29 | Going Back On The Pill After 15 Years

00:14:25 | What Would You Do Differently For Your Daughters?

00:17:09 | Integrative Medicine & Looking Beyond Conventional Care

00:19:35 | Researching Medical Evidence In The Age Of Information

00:21:02 | The Recovery Protocols That Helped Most

00:24:39 | Grieving The Loss Of Your Former Self

00:30:11 | Why She Isn't Using Hormone Replacement Therapy

00:32:58 | Explaining Chronic Illness To Young Children

00:37:11 | Marriage, Caregiving & Family Support

00:40:35 | Regaining Independence After Two Years

00:42:36 | Redefining Success After Chronic Illness

00:45:50 | Lauren's 40s Formula

00:47:09 | Final Thoughts

About your hosts:

Jasmin Dhillon is an Integrated Health Strategist and Health Coach helping women in their 40s navigate gut health, hormones and nutrition.

https://www.instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin/

Amanda Lim is a Metabolic Health Coach focused on helping women build strength, confidence and long-term health.

https://www.instagram.com/coachamandalim/?hl=en

About the Guest:

Lauren is an attorney, healthcare privacy specialist, entrepreneur, and mother of three whose life changed dramatically after a near-fatal pulmonary embolism. Through her recovery journey, she has become a passionate advocate for greater awareness around women's health, informed decision-making, and redefining success in the face of adversity.

Support the podcast:

If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe and share with someone who needs to hear this. You can also support the show by "Buying Us a Coffee"

https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula

If you’ve been relying on melatonin or considering sleeping pills, this episode challenges everything you think you know about fixing insomnia. We dive into Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), a science-backed, first-line treatment recommended by leading sleep organizations.

You’ll learn why sleep issues in midlife aren’t just about hormones and why most women are never told about this powerful alternative. This episode breaks down how your thoughts, habits, and behaviors may be keeping you awake and how to reset them.

If you’re tired of being tired, this is where things change.

In This Episode:

- CBT-I is the first-line treatment for chronic insomnia, not medication

- Sleep problems are often driven by behavioral and cognitive patterns, not just hormones

- Most women are never offered CBT-I, despite strong medical backing

- Sleeping pills treat symptoms—but don’t fix the root cause

- Small changes in how you think about sleep can dramatically improve sleep quality

Hosted by Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim

Connect with Amanda & Jasmin: https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformula/

Jasmin Dhillon - https://www.instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin

Amanda Lim - https://www.instagram.com/coachamandalim

In today’s episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim sit down with fitness coach and ProCoach Gym co-founder Sara Mae Garcia.

If you've ever blamed hormones, age, or a slowing metabolism for your lack of progress, this conversation might challenge everything you think you know. Sara shares the simple habits that have helped her stay strong and healthy at 47, why most women don't need more cardio, and what it really takes to build muscle, lose fat, and feel confident in midlife.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why consistency matters more than motivation

• The biggest mistakes women make with fat loss after 40

• Strength training, protein, and the truth about body recomposition

• Why the scale isn't the best measure of progress

• The hidden downside of physique competitions and extreme dieting

• Sara's personal experience with perimenopause and changing hormones

If you're tired of quick fixes and ready for a more sustainable approach to fitness, this episode is for you.

In this episode:

00:00:00 | Meet Sara Mae

00:04:45 | The Real Fitness Secret

00:08:56 | Do You Need Cardio?

00:11:07 | Stop Going Through The Motions

00:14:08 | The Dark Side Of Being Lean

00:18:18 | Fat Loss Without Misery

00:20:58 | How Long Does It Really Take?

00:24:57 | Why The Scale Lies

00:27:48 | What's Really Holding You Back

00:31:16 | The Hyrox Reality Check

00:33:33 | How Much Protein Do You Need?

00:37:15 | The Perimenopause Wake-Up Call

00:43:13 | Fitness Obsession & Mental Health

00:45:15 | Menopause, Confidence & Body Image

00:48:49 | Fitness Trends: Worth It Or Not?

00:52:31 | Fasting After 40

00:56:54 | Why Undereating Keeps You Stuck

About your hosts:

Jasmin Dhillon is an Integrated Health Strategist and Health Coach helping women in their 40s navigate gut health, hormones and nutrition.

Amanda Lim is a Metabolic Health coach focused on helping women build strength, confidence and long-term health.

Support the podcast:

If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe and share with someone who needs to hear this. You can also support the show by "Buying Us a Coffee" https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula

Thank you to our sponsors:

The Meat Club: Use code TFF20 for $20 off your first order

Love Indus: Use code TFF for 21% off

Metabolic health, muscle health, strength training for women over 40, menopause metabolism, insulin resistance in women, and why muscle is critical for longevity.

In this clip from The Forties Formula, hosts Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim speak with Associate Professor Reshma Merchant, Head and Senior Consultant of Geriatric Medicine at the National University Hospital Singapore.

Many women believe metabolism slows simply because of age. But emerging research shows that muscle plays a much bigger role in metabolic health than most people realise.

Professor Merchant explains why muscle is actually an endocrine organ, how it influences the brain, liver, insulin sensitivity, and fat metabolism, and why protecting muscle mass is one of the most important things women can do in midlife.

The conversation also explores how lifestyle habits — including movement, protein intake, and sleep — influence not only our own health, but the health habits our children learn at home.

▶️ Click here for the full episode: https://youtu.be/IslDmtXNTF0

🎧 Search for The Forties Formula wherever you get your podcasts

Hosted by Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim

Chapters

00:00 Why women should care about metabolic health

00:04 Muscle is an endocrine organ

00:18 How muscle affects the brain and liver

00:32 Muscle’s role in reducing visceral fat

00:45 Why everyone should care about muscle health

01:00 “Your brawn feeds your brain”

01:34 Muscle, insulin resistance and weight gain

02:18 The more muscle you have, the more carbs you can eat

02:53 Prevention across the life cycle

03:32 Why family lifestyle habits matter

04:08 Teaching kids healthy habits

04:16 Lifestyle vs genetics

05:04 Why sleep matters for metabolic health

Keywords

muscle health women over 40 metabolic health women strength training menopause muscle endocrine organ prevent insulin resistance women longevity health women healthy aging women protein and muscle health midlife metabolism women's health podcast

In today’s episode of The 40s Formula, we sit down with Caroline Warren, founder of Supporting Eve, Singapore’s specialist bra fitting boutique. Caroline is a UK-trained professional bra fitter with certifications in bra fitting, sports bra fitting, and post-surgery fittings for breast cancer survivors. She also holds a certification in sports bra fitting and breast biomechanics, drawing on research from the University of Portsmouth.

Most women are walking around in the wrong sized bras, not a little off, but significantly off. In this eye-opening conversation, we unpack the real reasons why 80-95% of women wear ill-fitting bras, the surprising health impacts (headaches, neck pain, posture issues), and how a proper fit can transform how you feel every single day. From pregnancy and postpartum changes to perimenopause and menopause, Caroline shares practical, no-nonsense advice every woman in her 40s needs to hear.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why most women (including Olympians) are in the wrong bra size

• The tell-tale signs your bra doesn’t fit, and the simple checks you can do today

• How to properly put on a bra (the “swoop and scoop” technique)

• Best bras for different body types, lifestyles, and breast shapes

• Sports bras, why they matter more than you think and what to look for

• Body changes through pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause, and beyond

• Caroline’s personal journey through early menopause at 38

If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable in your bra, dealt with back/neck pain, or just accepted that “bras are just uncomfortable,” this episode is a game-changer.

Chapters:

0:00 — Precap

2:34 — Episode Begins

2:46 — Caroline Warren’s journey + first bra stories

5:46 — Statistics: 80–95% of women wear the wrong bra size

8:23 — Problems caused by ill-fitting bras (pain, posture, migraines)

11:36 — Why we were never taught proper bra fitting

12:46 — What to expect in a professional bra fitting (fit by sight)

15:44 — Key checks: Band support, gore placement, straps

16:21 — Band vs Cup relationship explained

18:19 — Real example: From 38D to 30GG

33:04 — How to correctly put on a bra (Swoop & Scoop)

23:29 — Bra recommendations for different body types

26:12 — Cut & sew, molded, balcony, plunge explained

35:00 — How long should a bra last?

35:40 — Sports bra fitting & breast biomechanics

51:05 — Hot or Hype: Common bra myths

55:32 — Caroline’s personal menopause journey at 38

57:21 — Life transitions where you should get refitted

59:57 — Where to find Supporting Eve + final thoughts

VISIT SUPPORTING EVE

📍 Cluny Court Shopping Mall, Bukit Timah, opposite Botanic Gardens MRT Station, Second Floor

🕐 Open seven days a week, 10am — 7pm

🌐 supportingeve.sg

If you are in your 40s and noticing changes in your body that nobody warned you about, this clip from our THE FORTIES FORMULA IN FOCUS on women's health is for you.

Dr. Jesshirin Sidhu, GP and sexual health specialist at InSync Medical, breaks down exactly what happens to vaginal health during perimenopause and menopause — and what you can actually do about it. From why you get low estrogen and how it causes vaginal dryness, to which lubricants are safe, to emerging treatments like vaginal lasers and hyaluronic acid, this is the conversation most women never get to have with their doctor.

We cover why vaginal dryness is not just a menopause problem, how to choose lubricants without harmful parabens or glycerine, why topical estrogen and testosterone are underused and underprescribed, what lasers and hyaluronic acid treatments can do for women with severe dryness, safe home remedies that actually work, and why birth control pills could be killing your libido right now. This is practical, clinical, and completely judgement-free.

🎙️ Guest: Dr. Jesshirin Sidhu

🏥 InSync Medical Women's Health: https://www.insyncmedical.sg/womens-health/

📲 Follow InSync Medical: https://www.instagram.com/insyncmedical.sg

📖 Get our free ebook: https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/2156555/sites/185865618324457283/the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin-wn3zmn

📲 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformula

Watch the full conversation here: https://youtu.be/0N8brGgHt7M?si=qGYVV05hZW-16GQq

Chapters

00:00 — Why estrogen depletion changes everything down there

01:22 — Vaginal dryness — what is actually happening and why it is not just a menopause issue

02:20 — Lubricants and moisturisers — what to use and what to avoid

03:08 — Parabens, glycerine and why your lubricant choice matters more than you think

04:32 — Hyaluronic acid for vaginal hydration — how it works

05:45 — Topical estrogen and testosterone — what most doctors are not prescribing

06:41 — Birth control pills and libido — the testosterone connection

07:05 — Vaginal lasers — who they are for and how they work

09:51 — Safe home remedies including coconut oil and olive oil

Tags

perimenopause, vaginal dryness, menopause symptoms, women over 40, vaginal health, hormonal changes, estrogen depletion, lubricants for menopause, vaginal moisturizer, topical estrogen, testosterone women, hyaluronic acid vaginal, vaginal laser treatment, perimenopause symptoms, women's sexual health, libido women 40s, birth control libido, forties formula, healthy aging women, menopause relief, intimate health women, midlife women health, menopause treatment, insync medical

Leadership advisor and author Sally J Clarke joins the Forties Formula to explore the strategic — not emotional — decision to walk away from a role, title or career that no longer fits. Drawing from her book with co-author Deborah Overdeput, Walk Away: Step Out to Step Up, Sally shares real stories of women who rebuilt careers and companies by first stepping out of the wrong ones. The conversation covers the moment you know it's time to leave, how to use fear as a growth signal, what integrity capital means for your career and relationships, and why your health is always the variable that wins.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 | The Career Advice Women Ignore

02:54 | The Quiet Sign You’re In The Wrong Life

05:51 | Why Fear Might Mean You’re On The Right Path

08:39 | The Success Trap That Drains Women

12:09 | The Currency More Valuable Than Money

22:17 | Why Ambitious Women End Up Exhausted

25:40 | When Success Starts Costing Your Health

28:18 | Why “Strong Women” Keep Breaking Down

30:32 | The Mindset Shift That Changes Careers

38:19 | What To Do When You Feel Lost In Midlife

40:06 | Why Doing Less Can Change Your Life

🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS

Our free ebook - https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/2156555/sites/185865618324457283/the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin-wn3zmn

Buy me a coffee for $5 a month we answer your questions. https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula

Thank you to our sponsors:

Love, Indus – get 21% off luxury skincare with code TFF https://loveindus.com/

The Forties Formula Podcast → https://thefortiesformula.com/

life purpose self reflection career crisis career growth

If you are in your 40s and feel like something has shifted — your energy, your body, your recovery — there is a scientific reason for it. And it started long before you noticed.

In this episode, Professor Andrea Meyer, a leading researcher in healthy ageing, breaks down the difference between your chronological age and your biological age, and why that gap matters more than most women realise. You might be 42 on paper. But your body could be ageing at a rate that puts you five years ahead of that — or five years behind. The difference comes down to what is happening inside your organs, your hormones, and your cells right now.

We cover what biological age actually measures, why your organs age at different rates, how to start tracking the markers that matter, what the research says about diet and how much it can genuinely extend your healthy years, and why your 40s are one of the most critical windows to act.

This is not about looking younger. It is about having the energy, strength, and health to live well for longer — and knowing what to do about it before it becomes harder to reverse.

Chapters

• 00:00 — How old do you actually feel?
• 01:43 — Lifespan vs healthspan — the gap nobody talks about
• 05:32 — Biological age vs chronological age — and why yours may surprise you
• 09:28 — What to track and why to start now
• 14:00 — Diet, nutrition and how many years you could add
• 20:00 — Exercise for women over 40 — strength, endurance and balance
• 28:00 — Supplements — what the science actually says

📖 Get our free ebook: https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/2156555/sites/185865618324457283/the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin-wn3zmn

Follow us on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformula

https://www.instagram.com/chilongevity

longevity, women over 40, perimenopause, reverse aging, biological age, anti aging, how to live longer, menopause, anti aging foods, strength training, how to stay young, healthy aging, anti aging tips, nutrition, how to look younger, women's health, forties formula, healthy lifestyle over 40, hormone health, aging well

Why High-Achieving Women Burn Out in Their 40s (And What to Do Instead)

If you've spent years achieving, delivering, and pushing through — and you're now hitting a wall in your 40s — this episode is for you.

Yi-Mei Lai (Mei), founder of Alchemei Healing and a Feminine Power & Self-Worth Coach, joins us to talk about what's really happening when high-achieving women hit burnout in midlife. It's not a failure of discipline or drive. It's the cost of running entirely on masculine energy for decades — and the body eventually refuses to keep up.

Mei works with purpose-led female founders and leaders to help them receive and hold more while doing less. Through her Feminine Power Archetypes framework, she guides women from people-pleasing to boundaries, from constant proving to genuine receiving, and from disconnection to a deep inner knowing.

This conversation covers why rest feels like something you have to earn, how stress severs your connection to intuition, and what it actually looks like to come home to yourself in midlife.

In this episode:

• Why women experience a major identity and emotional shift in their 40s
• The real cost of operating in chronic masculine energy
• How stress disconnects you from your intuition and body
• Why emotional safety is the foundation of self-trust
• What the Feminine Power Archetypes framework is and how it works
• Practical ways to reconnect with your body without overhauling your life

Connect with Mei:

• Discover your Feminine Power Archetype: https://alchemei-healing.com/quiz/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alchemei.healing/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yi-mei-lai/

⏱️ CHAPTERS:

00:00 — Why women suddenly feel different in their 40s

02:00 — Meet Mae from Alchemy Healing

03:00 — Understanding the “midlife shift” women experience

08:45 — Masculine vs feminine energy explained

13:45 — How stress disconnects women from intuition

18:20 — Rebuilding self-worth and emotional safety

23:10 — Why women struggle to feel their emotions

27:45 — The pressure to constantly “fix” yourself

32:00 — Reconnecting with the body and feminine energy

36:45 — “Your body is your oracle, not an obstacle”

41:30 — Astrology, cycles, and emotional awareness

45:50 — Trusting yourself again in midlife

50:30 — Final reflections on healing, intuition, and thriving in your 40s

🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS

Our free ebook - https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/2156555/sites/185865618324457283/the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin-wn3zmn

Buy me a coffee for $5 a month we answer your questions. https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula

Thank you to our sponsors:

Love, Indus – get 21% off luxury skincare with code TFF https://loveindus.com/

The Forties Formula Podcast → https://thefortiesformula.com/

In this powerful 9-minute highlight from The Forties Formula, we uncover why your "normal" blood test results might be gaslighting you.

Dr. Tash breaks down the critical difference between surviving and thriving when it comes to iron. If you’ve been told your fatigue is "just burnout" or "part of aging," but you know deep down something is wrong, this clip explains the biology behind your exhaustion. We discuss why Iron Deficiency is the silent epidemic for women over 40 and why your Hemoglobin levels are lying to you about your actual energy reserves.

⚠️ Want the full protocol? This is just the diagnosis. To hear Dr. Tash's complete strategy for fixing your levels, safe supplementation, and the role of heavy periods, check out the FULL EPISODE here.

🗝️ Key Takeaways in This Clip

• 00:00 – The Oxygen Problem: Why iron isn't just a mineral—it's your body's entire oxygen transport system (and why you feel breathless without it).
• 02:15 – The "Burnout" Trap: How low iron mimics every symptom of burnout and perimenopause, leading to misdiagnosis.
• 04:30 – Ferritin vs. Hemoglobin: The crucial difference between your "storage" iron (Ferritin) and your "circulating" iron (Hemoglobin)—and why doctors often check the wrong one.
• 06:20 – Normal ≠ Optimal: Dr. Tash reveals why being "in the black" on a lab report doesn't mean you are healthy.
• 08:15 – The Inflammation Mask: How stress or inflammation can falsely inflate your ferritin levels, hiding a severe deficiency.

💬 The Quote That Says It All

"If we don’t correct the iron deficiency, there’s no amount of hormonal management that will have that patient feeling optimized." — Dr. Tash

There’s a version of motherhood many women are quietly trying to live up to.

The calm mother.

The grateful mother.

The woman who somehow keeps her career, body, marriage, friendships and identity perfectly intact… while raising a child.

But what happens when becoming a mother changes you in ways nobody prepared you for?

In this episode of The Forties Formula, Amanda Lim and Jasmin Dhillon sit down with author, workplace advocate and matrescence expert Sara Pantry to unpack the invisible emotional, hormonal and identity shifts women experience after having children.

From postpartum anxiety and birth trauma to career pressure, breastfeeding guilt and losing your sense of self, this is a conversation about the parts of motherhood women are expected to survive quietly.

Because motherhood isn’t just about learning how to care for a baby.

It’s about becoming an entirely different version of yourself.

And for many women, that transformation feels lonelier, heavier and more disorienting than anyone admits.

We talk about:

• Why motherhood can feel emotionally overwhelming even when you “wanted this”

• What matrescence actually means; and why more women are finally talking about it

• The invisible identity shift that happens after having children

• Why so many women feel isolated after birth

• The pressure to “bounce back” and why it’s harming mothers

This episode is for every woman who has ever felt like motherhood changed her more than she expected.

And for anyone trying to understand why so many mothers are struggling silently behind the scenes.

Because maybe the problem isn’t that women are failing motherhood.

Maybe the expectations were impossible to begin with.

⏱️ CHAPTERS:

00:00 | The motherhood myth women were sold

03:47 | Why matrescence changes everything

04:39 | The loss of the village and modern motherhood

06:00 | Sara’s own matrescence journey

08:41 | The moment she finally felt seen

09:53 | How motherhood rewires the brain and identity

11:17 | The “invisible postpartum” nobody talks about

13:49 | Why workplaces are failing mothers

17:32 | Rituals, healing and writing love letters to yourself

18:52 | Reading the letter that changed everything

21:25 | Birth trauma, anxiety and not being heard

22:22 | The pressure to “bounce back” after birth

23:31 | Redefining what being a “good mother” means

24:51 | “Be where your feet are”

26:47 | Rugged flexibility and holding onto yourself

29:46 | Why comparison is destroying modern mothers

30:38 | The power of “second best parenting”

32:35 | Mothers need support beyond childbirth

35:02 | Why workplaces must fundamentally change

38:23 | Why partners need parental leave too

40:02 | Breastfeeding guilt, pressure and shame

43:33 | Letting go of perfection to actually thrive

46:41 | Sara’s Forties Formula for motherhood and life

47:51 | The antenatal class rant every mother will relate to

🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS

Our free ebook - https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/2156555/sites/185865618324457283/the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin-wn3zmn

Buy me a coffee for $5 a month we answer your questions.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Love, Indus – get 21% off luxury skincare with code TFF https://loveindus.com/

The Forties Formula Podcast → https://thefortiesformula.com/

What does it feel like to think you’re dying… while fully conscious? In this Forties Formula In Focus clip, Dr. Sarah Nami Ahn — a UCLA-trained neuroscientist and brain tumor survivor — shares the most terrifying moment of her journey.

From hallucinating walls on fire… to believing the nurses were trying to harm her… to a final thought: “God… my kids.” This is the raw, unfiltered reality of what happened inside the ICU — and the moment everything shifted.

🎙️ Hosted by Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim, The Forties Formula In Focus brings you powerful, unedited moments from our most impactful conversations — designed to give you a glimpse… and leave you wanting more.

🧠 Why we’re sharing this now We’re re-releasing this clip during Brain Tumour Awareness Month (May) to spotlight the realities of diagnosis, recovery, and what isn’t always talked about. If you’ve ever: experienced symptoms that didn’t make sense felt dismissed or unheard or supported someone through a serious diagnosis This story will stay with you.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Hallucinations begin — “the walls were on fire”

00:45 Confusion and fear in the ICU

01:30 “They hate me” — paranoia sets in

02:15 Messaging her husband — something isn’t right

03:00 Heart racing — overwhelming terror 03:45 “This is death. This is it.”

04:20 “God… my kids” — the final thought

05:00 She passes out

05:30 Waking up to a completely different reality

06:15 The emotional aftermath

🎧 Watch the FULL episode here: 👉 https://youtu.be/RTUTXp3yrSc

🎁 Get our FREE ebook A practical guide to help you feel better, eat better, and understand your body in your 40s:

👉 https://the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin-wn3zmn.subscribepage.io/

☕ Support the podcast Join us on Buy Me a Coffee ($5/month) and get your questions answered in our monthly Q&A episodes:

👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula

🔗 Connect with us

👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformula

👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefortiesformula

🔗 Follow Dr. Sarah Nami Ahn

👉 https://www.instagram.com/onnami/

💬 If this resonated… Share it with someone who needs to hear it. Because these moments — the real ones — are the ones that change how we see everything.

There’s a moment, as a mother, when you look at your daughter and realise something is changing.

She’s quieter. More emotional. More critical of herself.

And you’re left wondering… is this normal, or is something deeper going on?

In this episode, we sit down with psychologist Dr. Emma Waddington and physician Dr. Gina Hel to unpack what’s really happening beneath the surface for girls today.

From earlier puberty and hormonal shifts to the impact of social media, friendships, and identity, this is a conversation every parent needs to hear.

Because the reality is, girls aren’t just growing up differently… they’re growing up under more pressure than ever before.

And if you’re a woman in your 40s, you might recognise something else too… parts of your own story reflected back at you.

We cover:

The subtle signs your daughter may be struggling

Why puberty is starting earlier

How hormones affect mood, sleep and behaviour

The impact of social media on self-worth

Why friendships matter more than you realise

The truth about body image in young girls

How to build connection before adolescence hits

What helps girls feel confident and supported

If you’re raising a daughter or trying to understand the pressures girls face today, this episode will shift how you see it all.

🤝 SPONSOR

Thank you to our sponsor Love, Indus

Enjoy 21% off with code TFF

👉 https://www.loveindus.com

🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS

Osler Health → https://www.osler-health.com

Us Therapy → https://www.ustherapy.sg

Untangled by Lisa Damour → https://amzn.to/4cWz8vc

Run Like A Girl (Always) → https://youtu.be/qtDMyGjYlMg

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

02:00 Signs your daughter may be struggling

05:00 Puberty and hormones

07:30 Emotional shift in adolescence

10:00 Brain development and social connection

11:00 Social media and self-esteem

14:00 Friendship dynamics

16:00 Loneliness and online connection

19:30 Body image and early pressure

21:00 Parenting influence and identity

27:00 Teaching girls to speak up

34:00 Body image in sport

39:30 Self-worth and achievement

41:00 The pressure to be everything

45:00 Parenting teens vs coaching

What happens when you realise the life you built wasn’t fully yours?

In this Forties Formula in Focus clip, Uma Thana Balasingham shares the moment everything cracked — and what it really means to start again.

In this Forties Formula in Focus episode, we revisit a powerful conversation with Uma Thana Balasingham on what she calls a “career quake.”

From building a high-performing career in tech to walking away from a marriage rooted in fear, Uma opens up about the quiet realisations that many women experience but rarely say out loud.

This isn’t about starting over for the sake of it. It’s about questioning the decisions you once made, understanding where they came from, and giving yourself the space to choose differently.

We talk about identity, grief, expectations, and the uncomfortable but necessary process of meeting yourself again.

• The idea of “career quakes” and what they really feel like
• Making life decisions from fear vs alignment
• The identity shift when you step away from career or relationship
• Why grief is part of growth
• Learning to sit still instead of constantly doing

Key Takeaways

• You can love your life and still feel something is missing
• Not every decision you made was fully yours — and that’s okay
• Growth often starts with discomfort
• You don’t need to rush the rebuild
• Meeting yourself is part of the process

⏱ Chapters

00:00 Questioning everything

01:10 Marriage, fear, and honest reflection

03:00 Following narratives that weren’t yours

05:10 What is a “career quake”?

07:30 Grief, identity, and starting again

🔗 Links & Resources

🎙 Listen / Watch The Forties Formula

• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thefortiesformula
• Website: https://www.thefortiesformula.com
• All platforms: https://bio.site/thefortiesformulapodcast

☕ Support the show

• Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula

Uma Thana Balasingham

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/umathana/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uma__raw/

👩🏽‍💻 Follow Us

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformula
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefortiesformula

Are you high-functioning, successful — and completely exhausted? In this episode of The Forties Formula, hosts Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim sit down with mindset coach Krystal Clavier-Choo to unpack the hidden emotional load carried by high-achieving women in their 40s.

We explore why burnout in women goes deeper than workload — rooted instead in conditional self-worth, societal caregiving pressure, and an achievement-driven identity that never lets you rest. If you constantly feel like you're performing your life instead of actually living it, this conversation is for you. What we cover:

Why high-functioning women feel permanently "on" — and what it's really costing them How achievement becomes emotional survival (not just ambition) The hidden identity crisis that hits women in midlife (35–45) What self-acceptance actually looks like when you strip away productivity How to rebuild internal safety without needing to earn it

Timestamps:

00:00 – Why high-functioning women feel like they’re “holding it all together”

02:15 – The invisible pressure behind being capable and dependable

04:40 – Conditional self-worth: “I am only valuable if I achieve”

07:10 – How high achievement becomes emotional survival

09:45 – Why success never feels like enough (moving goalposts)

12:20 – The hidden cost of being “the strong one”

15:05 – Burnout vs emotional exhaustion: what’s really happening

17:40 – Societal conditioning of women as caregivers

20:10 – Losing your identity while meeting everyone else’s needs

23:00 – Disconnection from body, emotions, and self

25:30 – Why midlife (35–45) triggers this awakening

28:10 – The moment women start questioning everything

30:45 – Rebuilding safety without productivity or achievement

33:20 – Letting go of performance-based identity

35:40 – What self-acceptance actually looks like in real life

37:10 – Final reflections: coming back to yourself

🎙️ Guest: Krystal Clavier-Choo | CEO & Founder, The Dimensional System

📲 Follow Krystal: https://www.instagram.com/metakrystal

📲 Follow The Forties Formula: https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformula

🌐 Website: https://www.thefortiesformula.com

women burnout, burnout in 40s, high functioning anxiety, midlife women health, emotional exhaustion women, self worth women, perimenopause mindset, women 40s burnout, identity crisis midlife, caregiving stress women, high achiever burnout

If you’ve ever felt lonely despite having a full life, a career, a family, and people around you… this conversation will land.

In this Forties Formula in Focus clip, we revisit one of the most powerful moments from our full episode with Mimi Nicklin, where we explore why so many women in their 40s feel disconnected — and why it’s not your fault.

• We talk about:
• Why loneliness isn’t about being alone
• The hidden cost of success without connection
• Why “soft skills” like empathy are actually essential for survival
• How modern life is quietly pulling us further apart
• And what it really takes to feel connected again

This is one of those conversations that makes you pause and think… “oh, that makes sense.”

🎧 Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/xDuBymzL-I8?si=AhxgubSjMWQ1upEB

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Why connection feels harder than ever

01:10 – “Please stop calling these soft skills”

02:30 – Why loneliness is hard to admit

04:00 – You can be surrounded but still feel alone

05:20 – The CEO story: success without connection

07:10 – Why connection is actually about survival

08:30 – Living longer through connection

09:45 – What empathy really means (and why it matters)

🔑 KEYWORDS women in their 40s midlife loneliness feeling disconnected emotional health women connection and wellbeing empathy and relationships midlife mental health high achieving women burnout social connection health why do I feel lonely communication interpersonal skills self improvement life lessons longevity

🏷️ TAGS #fortiesformula #womenshealth #midlifewomen #emotionalwellbeing #loneliness #selfgrowth #mentalhealth #workingmums #highachievers #connection

Reclaiming Body Confidence in Midlife with Amanda & Jasmin

Why do so many women in their 40s feel like their body has suddenly become a problem?

In this episode, Amanda and Jasmin unpack how diet culture, societal pressure, and years of conditioning shape the way we see ourselves — especially as our bodies change. From the emotional attachment to old clothes to the reality of navigating a different body, this conversation goes deeper than weight.

This is about identity, confidence, and learning how to feel like yourself again.

In this episode:

• Why body image struggles often intensify in your 40s
• The lasting impact of 80s and 90s diet culture
• The truth behind “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels”
• Why clothes — not your body — might be the real issue
• How to find styles that actually work for your current body
• Navigating comments, microaggressions, and social pressure
• What body positivity gets wrong — and what matters more
• How to rebuild confidence without chasing your old body

Timestamps:

00:00 – Why body image feels harder in your 40s

03:39 – The “skinny feels” belief unpacked

07:18 – Body changes and clothing struggles

09:04 – Shopping trauma and fit frustration

12:19 – The emotional attachment to old clothes

14:41 – Handling comments about your body

16:06 – Body positivity vs reality

18:44 – Redefining strength and confidence

21:56 – Fashion industry challenges

29:47 – Meeting women where they are

33:01 – Finding what actually works for you

40:12 – Confidence beyond appearance

46:01 – Strength, identity, and midlife

50:31 – Final reflections

Resources & Links:

Beauty Sick by Renee Engeln

https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Sick-Cultural-Obsession-Hurting/dp/006246978X

Supporting Eve Lingerie

https://www.supportingeve.com

The Forties Formula Podcast

https://www.thefortiesformula.com

Connect with us:

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformula

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@thefortiesformula

What if your body already knows how to heal — it just needs someone to help it remember?

In this clip from The Forties Formula in Focus, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim sit down with two certified BodyTalk practitioners based in Singapore: Rieke Hartwell and Sufen Paphassarang.

Together, they explore how BodyTalk — a holistic healing modality that addresses the whole person rather than isolated symptoms — has helped women reverse autoimmune conditions, recover from chronic pain, and navigate perimenopause without drugs.

Rieke shares her extraordinary personal story of healing a 7cm ovarian abscess without needing surgery her doctors insisted she needed. Sufen — an Advanced BodyTalk Practitioner and instructor — breaks down the science and philosophy behind the approach, from "structured intuition" to the body's innate healing intelligence. If you've ever felt dismissed by conventional medicine or wondered if there's another way, this conversation is for you.

Chapters:

0:00 "God, you look like death"

0:45 10 months of chronic pelvic pain — no diagnosis

1:30 Sufen's first session: "massive infection in your right ovary"

2:45 Surgery reveals a 7cm abscess — organ removal scheduled

4:00 "He is not removing any of your organs"

5:10 The scan that shocked her gynecologist

6:15 Why the body stops healing — stress, trauma & the sinkhole

7:20 The body is designed to heal. Here's what gets in the way.

📲 Connect With Our Guests

Rieke Hartwell — BodyTalk Practitioner, Singapore: @rieke.bodytalk.sg

Sufen Paphassarang — Advanced BodyTalk Practitioner & Instructor, The BodyTalk Centre Singapore: @sufen_bodytalk

📲 Connect With Your Hosts

Jasmin Dhillon: @eat.with.jasmin

Amanda Lim: @coachamandalim

Struggling with poor sleep, night wakings, or feeling exhausted no matter how long you stay in bed? Wondering why sleep gets harder in your 40s, even when you’re doing everything “right”? In this episode, we sit down with sleep expert and CBT-I researcher Dr. Susan McCurry to unpack why sleep often worsens for women in midlife and what healthy sleep actually looks like. From hormonal shifts during perimenopause to stress, lifestyle habits, and environmental disruptions, we break down the real reasons your sleep feels off and why most advice doesn’t work long-term.

We also dive deep into chronic insomnia, what it really means, why it persists, and how to treat it effectively without relying on quick fixes. Dr. McCurry explains why Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is considered the gold standard by major sleep organizations, and how simple, structured changes can rebuild your sleep from the ground up.

If you’re tired of being tired, this conversation will help you understand what’s happening, and what actually works. This podcast is for women in their 40s (and late 30s to 50s) who are navigating perimenopause, stubborn belly fat, energy crashes, and confusing health advice. Women who want science-backed, unfiltered conversations instead of quick fixes. Hosted by Integrated Health Strategist Jasmin Dhillon and Metabolic Health Coach Amanda Lim, we help you understand what’s changing and what you can actually do about it.

🔔 Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations on health, wellness, and thriving in your 40s: https://www.youtube.com/@thefortiesformula?sub_confirmation=1

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

-Why sleep often worsens during midlife and perimenopause

-How hormones, ageing, and vasomotor symptoms impact sleep

-The role of stress, screens, kids, pets, partners, caffeine, and alcohol

-What defines chronic insomnia (and when to take it seriously)

-Why sleep trackers can sometimes make sleep anxiety worse

-The truth about melatonin, midnight snacking, and alcohol for sleep

-What CBT-I is and why it’s the first-line treatment for insomnia

-Practical tools: stimulus control, consistent wake time, limiting time in bed

-Why reducing “time in bed” can actually improve sleep quality

-Insights from the MsFLASH trial on sleep improvement in midlife women

📱 CONNECT WITH US Follow us for more real conversations:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformula

• Instagram Jasmin: https://www.instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin

• Instagram Amanda: https://www.instagram.com/coachamandalim

• Michelle: https://www.instagram.com/chillbossmom

🎧 LISTEN / FOLLOW Search:

The Forties Formula wherever you get your podcasts.

In this clip from The Forties Formula Podcast, Hosts Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim sit down with @DrLowChaiLing to explore the common skin changes women experience in their 40s, noting a shift from oily to combination skin as cell turnover slows. We discuss essential skincare tips to maintain glowing skin and address concerns for women over 40.

Learn how to adapt your skin care routine for healthy, anti aging results.

key topics

- Skin changes in women in their 40s

- Effective skincare ingredients and routines

- Myths and facts about anti-aging treatments

Chapters

00:00 Cleansing and Exfoliation Essentials

00:42 Hormonal Breakouts and Skin Health

03:30 Hot or Hype: Trending Skin Treatments

06:29 Aging Gracefully vs. Giving Up

09:42 Nutrition's Role in Skin Health

skincare, 40s skin changes, anti-aging, hormonal breakouts, skincare tips, red light therapy, Botox, collagen, aging gracefully

What if building a business didn’t take you away from your family… but actually gave you more time with them?

In this episode of The Forties Formula, we sit down with Michelle Hon — entrepreneur, mum of three, and the woman behind the “Chill Mom” philosophy — to challenge everything we’ve been told about ambition, motherhood, and what it really takes to build a successful business.

Michelle shares how she went from being a stay-at-home mum and blogger to building multiple businesses, all while working from home and staying present for her children. Her approach isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing things differently.

If you’ve ever felt the tension between wanting more and feeling guilty for it, this episode will shift how you see both.

✨ In this episode, we cover:

• Why a business should work for you — not the other way around • The difference between being self-employed and running a business • How to structure your day to work fewer hours (and still grow) • The truth about mum guilt — and why it might not be a bad thing • How to calculate your hourly rate and stop undervaluing your time • The “gap” strategy to confidently increase your pricing • Why motherhood can actually make you a better entrepreneur

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Challenging the idea that you can’t have both 01:13 Michelle’s journey from blogger to business owner 03:20 Identity shifts in early motherhood 05:03 The biggest misconception about building a business 06:18 The “Chill Mom” philosophy explained 07:36 Creating structure through family values 11:31 The 5-hour workday approach 13:09 Nutrition and routines during busy weeks 15:05 Understanding and reframing mum guilt 17:44 Why motherhood builds entrepreneurial skills 19:43 Business vs self-employed — what’s the difference? 22:53 Rethinking how you value your time 27:06 Pricing and positioning for growth 30:03 Lessons from kids and simple business ideas 33:47 Hot or Hype: midlife myths 41:01 Michelle’s Forties Formula

🎁 Sponsor

The Meat Club SG - supports our Fuel Your Forties Segment, with $20 off your first order with code TFF20

Love, Indus Skincare Enjoy 21% off with code TFF

📱 Connect with us

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformula Jasmin: https://www.instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin Amanda: https://www.instagram.com/coachamandalim Michelle: https://www.instagram.com/chillbossmom

🎧 Follow & share

If this episode resonated, follow The Forties Formula and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

🏷️ Tags

mompreneur, business systems, entrepreneurship, work from home, women in business, mum guilt, six figure business, setting boundaries, midlife women, The Forties Formula

Embracing Motherhood: Breaking the Myths and Finding Balance

In this episode, Claire Jedrek, Singapore's first female racing car driver, shares her raw and honest journey through motherhood, mental health, and personal growth. She discusses the importance of self-compassion, confronting societal expectations, and redefining what it means to be a successful mother. This is a powerful reminder for mothers everywhere to prioritize their well-being and embrace the complexities of balancing identity and responsibility.

Key Topics

• The importance of self-acceptance and letting go of societal judgment
• How hormonal and body changes influence motherhood and mental health
• The role of honest communication with partners about needs and emotions
• Challenging the myth of sacrifices—motherhood as a series of choices, not sacrifices
• The reality of balancing work, personal ambitions, and parenting
• Managing mom guilt and societal judgments from men and others
• Practical advice: "Be where your feet are" to stay present and reduce anxiety
• Navigating panic attacks and emotional boundaries in motherhood

Timestamps:

00:00 - The pressure mothers face from societal judgment and self-criticism

02:00 - Recognizing and accepting hormonal and body changes after childbirth

03:30 - The importance of honest communication with your partner about mental health and needs

05:00 - Reframing motherhood: the truth about sacrifices and choices

06:30 - The reality of having it all: planning and accepting limitations

08:00 - Mom guilt and societal expectations from both genders

09:00 - The significance of being present in each moment ("Be where your feet are")

10:00 - Managing panic attacks and emotional boundaries in motherhood

Resources & Links:

• The Motherly Guide to Self-Compassion by Cynthia Kane
• Psychology Today - Panick Attacks & Anxiety Resources
• The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

Connect with Claire:

• Instagram
• Tiktok

Don't miss the full episode with Claire Jedrek on The Forties Formula, where we dive deeper into these topics and more. Tune in to gain insights and inspiration from Claire's journey and wisdom.

Apple Podcasts:

Spotify

Youtube

Have you ever gone quiet in a meeting when you knew you had the right answer? Or softened your tone to avoid being "too much"? You were muted — and it wasn't your fault.

This week we're joined by Heather Hansen, global communication specialist, TEDx speaker, author of Unmuted, and PhD candidate in Linguistics. Her viral TEDx talk "2 Billion Voices: How to Speak Bad English Perfectly" has sparked a global conversation about how we judge, silence, and underestimate voices.

We unpack:

• Why women learn to mute themselves from childhood — and how "being a good girl" costs us our career
• The truth about accent bias: how your voice triggers instant judgments about your competence and warmth
• Why "executive presence" is often just code for performing whiteness and maleness
• Singapore's unique and complex relationship with English
• The language lottery — and why monolingual English speakers don't know they won it
• Why connection beats perfection in every conversation00:00 - Who decided what confidence sounds like?03:01 - How early language management begins for women05:15 - Confidence versus socialized behavior in applying for jobs07:34 - Muting in global leadership and cross-cultural challenges15:38 - Race, accent, and bias16:35 - How language and accents influence behavior and opportunities18:23 - The emotional and social implications of accent bias21:15 - Power, status, and language in the workplace23:38 - The necessity of unmuting women’s voices in leadership28:36 - Singapore’s multilingual reality and language policy39:41 - Tips for understanding diverse accents in multicultural environments55:02 - The empowering message: Press unmute and claim your voice

Resources & Links:

• Unmuted: How to Unmute Your Voice and Speak Up with Confidence (book)
• Heather Hansen - Official Website
• Powerfully Likeable by Dr. Kate Mason

Connect with Heather Hansen:

• LinkedIn

The Forties Formula Podcast — Real conversations for women thriving in their 40s and beyond. Hosted by Jasmin Dhillon & Amanda Lim

Support The Forties Formula by BUYING US A COFFEE! For $5 a month we’ll record a special episode answering your questions.

Follow our Instagram @TheFortiesFormula.

Thanks to our sponsors, Love Indus — a modern Ayurvedic skincare brand designed to support radiant, healthy skin through every stage of life. Get 21% off with code TFF: https://loveindus.com

Struggling with weight loss after 40? Perimenopause weight gain, hormonal shifts, and a slower metabolism after 40 make midlife weight loss feel impossible — but it's not just your metabolism. In this clip from The Forties Formula in Focus, Laura Phillips joins Amanda & Jasmin to break down why weight loss for women over 40 requires a completely different approach — and what actually works.

☕ Buy us a coffee — buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula

🎧 Watch the full conversation: https://youtu.be/7tUjPyn8Dz8

Or search for Laura Phillips and The Forties Formula wherever you get your podcasts.

keywords

menopause, health, self-empowerment, boundaries, autoimmune, stress management, weight loss, hormonal health, personal responsibility, wellness key topics Menopause and hormonal health Setting boundaries for self-care The role of personal responsibility in health

Takeaways

- You are responsible for 99% of your health problems.

- Boundaries are essential for self-care and health.

- Menopause amplifies your baseline health, so proactive habits matter.

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Perimenopause and Its Impact

02:48 Self-Worth and Body Image

06:11 Setting Boundaries and Taking Responsibility

Midlife health, perimenopause symptoms, anxiety, sleep issues, burnout and hormone imbalance — why women in their 40s feel “off” even when tests are normal.

In this episode of The Forties Formula, hosts Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim sit down with Dr Olivia Lesslar to unpack why so many women in their 40s feel like something has shifted in their body — yet struggle to get clear answers.

If you’ve experienced lighter sleep, rising anxiety, unpredictable energy, weight changes, or a sense that your body isn’t responding the way it used to, this conversation connects the dots.

Dr Olivia Lesslar is an Australian medical doctor and an expert in psychoneuroimmunology and longevity medicine. Her work focuses on understanding how stress, hormones, the nervous system, and the immune system interact — particularly when symptoms don’t fit neatly into one diagnosis.

Together, we explore:

• Why “normal” test results don’t always reflect how you feel

• The symptoms women dismiss but shouldn’t

• How perimenopause amplifies stress and reduces resilience • Why your body may be trying to protect you, not work against you

• The impact of modern life on an already overloaded system

• GLP-1 medications, wearables, and the confusion around health trends

• Why self-compassion becomes essential in midlife

Chapters

0:00 Introduction — Why women feel “off” in their 40s

2:00 Why women are under-researched

4:30 When tests are “normal” but symptoms aren’t

8:30 Losing connection to your body and identity

13:00 Your body is trying to protect you 16:00 Ancient biology vs modern life

22:00 GLP-1 medications explained

27:30 Wearables and health anxiety

40:00 HRT and perimenopause conversation

44:00 Why women “fall off” in perimenopause

46:45 Self-compassion and the real shift in midlife

About your hosts

Jasmin Dhillon is an Integrated Health Strategist and Health Coach specialising in gut health, hormone balance and nutrition for women in midlife.

Amanda Lim is a Metabolic Health coach passionate about helping women build strength, resilience and confidence in their 40s and beyond.

Thank you to our sponsors

The Meat Club Use code TFF20 for $20 off your first order

Love Indus Use code TFF for 21% off

Cozy Earth Use code TFF for 21% off

Subscribe and follow The Forties Formula for more conversations that help you feel better, think clearer and live stronger.

Tags: perimenopause, midlife health, hormone imbalance, womens health 40s, anxiety in women, burnout, fatigue, sleep issues, gut health, longevity, psychoneuroimmunology, stress, nervous system, GLP1, HRT, fitness trackers, muscle health

Have you spent years thinking you're "too emotional," "too lazy," or "just anxious"… only to wonder if it might actually be ADHD?

You're not alone. ADHD in women is massively underdiagnosed — especially for women over 40 who've spent decades masking their symptoms just to keep up. In this episode, clinical psychologist Dr. Emma Waddington breaks down WHY women's ADHD looks so different, how it gets mistaken for anxiety and depression, and what the connection between ADHD and perimenopause really looks like.

If your mind feels like a popcorn machine, if you swing between "meerkat mode" and "sloth mode," or if you've ever whispered "what's wrong with me?" — this conversation will change how you see yourself. If you’ve ever thought, “How can I be this exhausted and still feel like I’m not doing enough?” – this one is for you.

Watch the full episode here: ADHD in Women: Burnout, Perfectionism & the Invisible Struggle https://youtu.be/yFbUU50KDRk

CHAPTERS

0:00 — Why girls learn to hide their ADHD

0:41 — How hyperactivity goes INTERNAL in women

1:21 — The social & emotional toll on teenage girls

1:54 — Perfectionism, piles & rigid coping strategies

2:27 — Why women get diagnosed in their 30s & 40s

3:00 — "What's wrong with me?" — Self-criticism & burnout

6:00 — Is it modern-day overwhelm?

7:08 — The neuroaffirmative approach

9:04 — The ADHD energy crash cycle

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS

✅ ADHD in women often looks like anxiety, depression, or burnout — not the "hyperactive boy" stereotype

✅ Masking starts in girlhood and leads to decades of self-blame

✅ Perimenopause can unmask or intensify ADHD symptoms

✅ Your brain isn't broken — it's wired for interest, novelty & challenge

✅ Recognizing the "meerkat and sloth" cycle is the first step to managing your energy

📌 WHO THIS IS FOR

→ Women who suspect they might have undiagnosed ADHD

→ Mums juggling everything and wondering why it feels so much harder for them

→ Women in perimenopause experiencing brain fog, emotional dysregulation, or burnout

→ Anyone who wants to understand the female ADHD experience

📩 Have a story or topic suggestion? DM us on Instagram — we love hearing from you.

☕ If you enjoy these conversations and want to support the show, you can buy us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula

Dr Emma Waddington is a clinical psychologist with a special interest in ADHD and neurodivergence in women. She supports women who’ve spent years feeling “too much” or “not enough” to finally understand their brains, reduce burnout and build lives that work with – not against – their wiring. https://www.instagram.com/dremmawaddington_/

Amanda Lim is a Metabolic Health Coach who helps women move from burnout and survival mode into strength, energy and confidence through training, nutrition and lifestyle.

Jasmin Dhillon is an Integrated Health Strategist focused on simplifying health for busy women. She blends nutrition, lifestyle and mindset so you can actually implement change in real life – not just on paper.

Stay Connected https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformula

#ADHDinWomen #ADHDWomen #ADHDandPerimenopause #UndiagnosedADHD #WomenOver40 #ADHDBurnout #ADHDMasking #EmotionalDysregulation #MentalHealthForWomen #NeurodivergentWomen #TheFortiesFormula #WomensHealth #ADHDAdult #AttentionRegulation #MidlifeWomen